2017 Porsche Panamera

Great Britain. Since its launch in 2009, the PorschePanamera has reconciled two contrasting characteristics: the performance of a sports car and the comfort of a luxury saloon. After sales of more than 150,000 worldwide, the second generation of the Panamera that is unveiled today advances further its benchmark performance in the luxury class. In this evolution, Porsche has systematically improved the Panamera – a four-door Gran Turismo that has been further refined down to the last detail. The engines and transmissions have been redesigned, the chassis and suspension optimised, and the driver display and control interfaces reinterpreted for the future – yet available today. The new Panamera also further extends the boundaries between the world of sports cars and that of luxury saloons, with technical dynamic highlights such as rear axle steering, active body roll compensation and innovative three-chamber air suspension.

911 design language with a much more dynamic flyline

Visually, the unique design of this Porsche is reflected in a new expressive appearance: unmistakably a Panamera, unmistakably a sports car – with long, dynamic proportions, pronounced shoulders, athletic flanks and an extremely ‘fast’ (rearward sloping) roof line that is 20 mm lower at the rear. This typical Porsche outline silhouette, or ‘flyline’, creates a stylistic link to the Porsche 911.

Functionality and easy interaction in the Porsche Advanced Cockpit

The typical Porsche interior has been reinterpreted in the new Panamera. Black panel surfaces and interactive displays combine a clear and intuitive user interface - similar to that of smartphones and tablets - with the practical requirements for controlling the car. The number of traditional hard keys and conventional instrument dials have been reduced significantly. They have been replaced by touch-sensitive panels and individually configurable displays which take centre stage in the new Porsche Advanced Cockpit – with great benefits for the driver as well as the front and rear passengers. Despite a significantly extended range of communication, convenience and assistance systems, different functions can now be used and operated more clearly and intuitively. The Porsche Advanced Cockpit transforms the analogue world into the digital present, while still leaving room for a nod to the past. The tachometer, positioned centrally in the instrument cluster, is reminiscent of that in the 1955 Porsche 356 A.

New V6 and V8 bi-turbo engines with ample power and full-bodied sound

A Porsche has always impressed with more than just power; efficiency is equally fundamental. To elevate this formula to a new level, all of the second generation Panamera engines have been redesigned. Each has been made more powerful, while significantly improving fuel economy and reducing emissions. Three new bi-turbo direct injection engines are being introduced at the market launch: in the Panamera Turbo, the Panamera 4S and the Panamera 4S Diesel.

Each of these – and for the first time including the diesel – may be specified with a permanent all-wheel drive system and a new eight-speed Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK). A V8 petrol engine that delivers 550 hp powers the Panamera Turbo and a V6 petrol engine with 440 hp drives the Panamera 4S. The Panamera 4S Diesel has a 422 hp V8, developing maximum torque of 850 Nm.

A luxury saloon that can take to the race track

In keeping with the overall ethos of the new Panamera, the chassis also unites the cruising comfort of a luxury saloon with the performance of a sports car. This is achieved by supplementing the impressive basic layout with optional innovative systems such as an adaptive air suspension with new three-chamber technology, including Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM electronic damper control), the enhanced Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (PDCC Sport) system including Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) and active body roll stabilisation, as well as a new electro-mechanical steering system.

The integrated 4D Chassis Control system analyses and synchronises all chassis systems in real time and optimises the road performance of the new Panamera. Porsche is also taking knowledge in the areas of steering precision and handling from the 911 Turbo and 918 Spyder, and adapting this for the Gran Turismo, with new rear axle steering feature. Brake performance has also been improved.

Next generation assistance systems

The Panamera is equipped with many standard and optional assistance systems, which make driving both more convenient and safer. The most important new systems include a night vision assistant, which uses a thermal imaging camera to detect pedestrians and large animals, and displays a colour highlighted warning indicator in the cockpit. If the optional new LED matrix headlights with 84 image points are selected, people beyond the visual range of the dipped beam headlight are also illuminated briefly if they are in the computed driving corridor, allowing the driver to react even faster.